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(No MdelL) 0.l TUFTS, Deod. E. V. TUFTs, Administratrix. OPEN GAR CURTAIN.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS TUFTS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS; ELEANOR V. TUFTS, ADMINIS- TRATRIX OF SAID OTIS TUFTS, DECEASED.

OPEN-CAR CURTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,176, dated December 29, 1885,

Application tiled January 26, 1885. Serial No. 153,955. (No model.)

transversely, my improvement being also ap plicable to the window-spaces of that class of cars on steam-railroads and known as excursion-cars, said cars having no other means of being closed than by the use of curtains.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of the curtains for use on the class of cars designated, as I will now proceed to particularly set out and claim.

Figure l shows a portion of an open car sufficient to illustrate my invention, which is applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a detail of a portion of one of the side posts to more clearly show the grooves and attached curtain.

In the present instance the side posts, A A, of an open car, of any usual or preferred construction, are longitudinallygrooved, as at a, in those faces which are opposite the faces of adjoining posts, and the said grooves are each partially closed at the mouth or face thereof, preferably by means of an overlapping strip or plate, b, secured to the post. The overlapping strips b serve to confine and guide suitable ribs, c, preferably of leather, which are stitched or attached to the sides of the curtain C, so that while said ribs are free to be moved up or down in the said grooves with the movement of the curtain, as the latter is raised or lowered, they are prevented from escaping laterally or moving sidewise from the posts. The curtain C may be mounted upon any preferred spring or counter-balance or other roller G, now in use, and pass therefrom over a leader-roll, D, journaled in the bracket E, and thence between a vpair of posts, so that its 5o side ribs will enter the secondary or entrance grooves e, and thence into the main grooves a. As indicated, the leader-roll D is interposed between the curtain-roll G and the posts, the periphery of said leader-roll being substantially in the line of the entrance-grooves e, which, it will be understood, properly directs the side ribs of the curtain at all times into the said entrance-grooves, whether the curtain is more or less rolled up on the curtainroll.

As shown in the drawings, the curtain-roll 6o is journaled in the bracket E, said bracket being adapted, also, to support the bell-rope.

"'Whenever desired, the curtain may be provided with any suitable known means for holding it down, as when lowered or drawn down at full length in case of a rain-storm, and merely to illustrate this feature I have shown simply a looped strip, 2, engaging a headed pin, 3.

Manifestly the shape and size of the grooves 7o may be made to suit any preferred rib or strip that may be secured to the sides of the cur` tain; and it is equally clear that, instead of providing grooves cut into the posts, I may secure a metal strip or strips to the posts, or any other suitable known means which is adapted to provide suitable ways or guides to retain the side ribs of the curtains in accordance with the requirements herein set forth.

As is well known, the posts A of the car are 8c grasped by the conductor, and serve as supports in moving along the sides of the car to collect fares, e., as well as serving as aids to passengers in entering or leaving the car, and the said posts are therefore usually made 85 smooth and rounded, so as not to hurt the hands. For this as one reason I am led to prefer the grooves cut into the posts with overlapping strips, which are let into the said posts so as to 4be substantially iiush with the 9o surface thereof, thereby offering nothing to the hurt or damage of the hands.

When the curtains are drawn fully down, the posts A cannot be grasped, as usual. So, to afford means by which to hold on the car when the curtains are down, I have provided yeach post A with a small handle, A2.

If desired, each curtain may have a handhole, as at O2, covered with a flap, C3, of larger SZG. ICO

To enable the curtain to roll up squarely and evenly and obviate excessive lateral strain on the narrow ribs c, I have provided the curtain near each rib with a winding-strip,

h, preferably of leather, attached to the curtain.

Heretofore a window-screen has been made in which reticulated fabric was wound upon a roller so as to be raised and loweredlike a o curtain, and the longitudinal edges of such fabric were secured in and guided by grooved strips on the window-frame, having slotted face-pieces. In another structure a curtain passed from its roller over a sort of leader bar 5 or rod, so that it is not broadly original with lne to guide a curtain in grooves made in the upriglits of 'rlie opening it covers, nor to pass f it into position from its roller over a leader.

I claim- 3 l. The combination, with a pair of side posts provided in their opposite faces with partially-closed grooves or Ways and the secondary or entrance grooves leading therefrom, as specified, of a curtainrroll provided with a curtain having slde ribs, as set forth, and a leader-roll having its periphery substantially in the line of the entrance-grooves, said leaderroll being arranged intermediate of the entrancegrooves 'and the curtain-roll, to prop- 3 erly direct the side ribs of the curtain atall times into the said entrance-grooves, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a pair of side posts provided in their opposite faces with partially-closed grooves or ways and the secondary or entrance grooves leading therefrom, as specified, of a curtain-roll provided with a curtain having side ribs, as set forth, and a leader-roll intermediate of the curtain-roll and the entrance-grooves, substantially as described.

3. In a car, the combination, with a pair of side posts provided in their opposite faces with a longitudinal partiallyclosed groove or way, as specified, of a curtain attached to a suitable roll secured to the car, and provided at each side with a rib or strip adapted to be retained in the grooves or ways of the posts, and to be moved freely up and down therein as the curtain is raised or lowered, and with a broad winding-strip, h, substantially of the thickness of the rib or strip, to operate all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subing witnesses.

OTIS TUFTS.

- Witnesses:

' G. W. GREGORY, JNO. O. WILsoN. 

